India has one of the oldest legal systems in the world. Its law and jurisprudence stretches back into the centuries, forming a living tradition which has grown and evolved with the lives of its diverse people.
India’s commitment to law is created in the Constitution which constituted India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic, containing a federal system with Parliamentary form of Government in the Union and the States, an independent judiciary, guaranteed Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy containing objectives which though not enforceable in law are fundamental to the governance of the nation.
Any matter regarding the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the constitution is considered as a constitutional matter. The Supreme Court, as India’s highest constitutional court, hear appeals mostly against verdicts of the high courts across the country, as well as other courts and tribunals. It also hear cases that the President of India may refer to it directly under the constitution.
The Supreme Court’s importance in dealing with constitutional matters are as:
The fountain source of law in India is the Constitution which, in turn, gives due recognition to statutes, case law and customary law consistent with its dispensations. Statutes are enacted by Parliament, State Legislatures and Union Territory Legislatures.
There is also a vast body of laws known as subordinate legislation in the form of rules, regulations as well as by-laws made by Central and State Governments and local authorities like Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Gram Panchayats and other local bodies.
This subordinate legislation is made under the authority conferred or delegated either by Parliament or State or Union Territory Legislature concerned. The decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all Courts within the territory of India. As India is a land of diversities, local customs and conventions which are not against statute, morality, etc.
A Public Interest Litigation is the power given to the public by the court. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) can be filed in any High Court or directly in the Supreme Court. A PIL is a kind of lawsuit brought in a court of law to protect “public interest” issues such as pollution, terrorism, road safety, and construction risks, among others. A Public Interest Litigation can be brought in a court of law to address any issue that concerns the broader public.
By submitting a petition, any citizen can bring a public case to the attention of the public:
In the matters related to bonded labor, children that have been neglected, exploitation of casual workers and non payment of minimum wages, women’s atrocities, environmental pollution and disruption of the ecological equilibrium, adulteration of food, heritage, and cultural preservation are some of the issues that are considered in PILs.
We have skilled professionals with a high level of legal knowledge and competence to deal with all the complicated matters related to PIL in India. We provide all essential assistance, whether it is dealing with the filing of a PIL in any social concern or related to any constitutional issue.
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